Won't appoint a Lokayukta who will help accused persons: Bhardwaj

The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka and Governor H R Bhardwaj continued to be at loggerheads over the appointment of the Lokayukta, with the latter telling the media on Monday in Bengaluru that he cannot appoint a Lokayukta who would help an accused.

Karnataka Chief Minister DB Sadananda Gowda and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa had suggested the name of Justice S R Bannur Math for the post of the Lokayukta. The governor, however, had rejected the appointment on Bannur Math on the ground that there were some allegations against him. Taking a shot at Yeddyurappa, he added, "How can an accused person suggest the name of the new Lokayukta?"

But, the Karnataka government has remained adamant that Bannur Math should be made the Lokayukta.

The post of the Karnataka Lokayukta has been lying vacant ever since Justice Shivraj Patil stepped down in September after a controversy erupted over allotment of housing sites for him and his wife allegedly in violation of rules.